Sermon and Worship Resources

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John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

King Duncan

Someone has penned an obituary that could have appeared in the Jerusalem Post, on a certain Saturday in the year 33 A.D. The obituary reads like this: Jesus Christ, age 33, of Nazareth, died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, “the place of the skull.” Betrayed by the apostle Judas, he was crucified by order of ruler Pontius Pilate. The causes of death were asphyxiation by crucifixion, extreme exhaustion, severe torture, and loss of blood. Jesus Christ, descendant of Abraham, was a member of ...

577. The Journey of Salvation

Luke 22:39-46, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Sermon

King Duncan

I want to begin with a fascinating story from the Middle Ages. It is about a pope named Gregory and a king named Henry IV of Germany. In those days popes not only had ecclesiastical power but political power as well. In a dramatic move, Pope Gregory excommunicated King Henry IV when he insisted on divorcing his wife Bertha of Savoy. This was not only devastating to Henry spiritually, but politically, for this made Henry ineligible to sit on the throne of Germany. The king, who well knew what the pope ...

578. True Colors

John 14:15-31, Psalm 66:1-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Anyone ever have a chameleon as a pet? The chameleon (the word means “ground lion”) is an unusual “old world” creature with independently movable eyes, a helmet head, and fused toes. It is known primarily though for its ability to change color on the rotation of a dime, according to its mood. The chameleon uses this ability to blend into its surroundings, to hide from predators, or to silently approach prey. We use the word chameleon in the English language also to indicate a person who is prone to change ...

579. A Personal Question Deserves a Personal Answer

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

Roy Howard

One warm August night and only two of us standing on our neighbor’s deck. The others had gone inside to escape the heat and eat the dessert waiting in the cool kitchen. Alone on the deck in the descending darkness of early evening my neighbor asked, “So, how did you find the Lord?” It was not a question I was expecting at a neighborhood dinner party, or any party for that matter, where politics, religion, and conviviality don’t mingle with one another. It made me uncomfortable and slightly embarrassed. ...

580. The Channel Between The Buoys

Proverbs 1:20-33

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

Let's go boating!" How I love to hear those words! It means open sky, shore birds, negotiating the chop on the sea, perhaps a water-borne adventure out to Bald Head Island! I must confess I'm new at nautical adventures. I've shown my ignorance by running out of gas, falling overboard, even running aground. Mishaps don't have to happen very often before one begins to learn fast. For instance, I'm learning to read buoys, channel markers, even the color of the water -- all signs of where safe passage lies. ...

581. Christ the King

John 18:28-40

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting Ldr: Pilate had Jesus brought before him to ask if Jesus were the king of the Jews. Cng: Jesus, we have come before you to affirm your authority over our lives. Ldr: Jesus proclaimed that his kingship was not from this world. Cng: Jesus, bring your kingdom into our world, and let it come soon. Prayer Our Father, each time we receive your holy communion, a new surge of Jesus' royal blood courses through our souls. Jesus' kingdom may not be from this world, but we certainly feel the influence of his ...

582. Happy Birthday!

Acts 2:1-13

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: An uninflated red balloon. Lesson: Pentecost; Holy Spirit. "Did any of you notice anything unusual outside the sanctuary this morning?" "There were decorations ... streamers ... balloons!" These are the sorts of things near and dear to a child's heart, and indeed they had noticed. "My goodness!" I exclaim in mock surprise. "It sounds like someone has decorated for a party! Does anyone know why we would be having a party today?" This question stumps them, so I continue. "Today is a special day in ...

583. Serving Our Purpose

2 Corinthians 3:18

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A tablet, a sharpened pencil, and an unsharpened pencil. Lesson: Change; the church; being ourselves; discipleship. As the children settle onto the chancel steps and surrounding floor space, I hold up a tablet and a pencil, careful to conceal the point end of the pencil in my hand. "What are these things for?" I ask. "To write with," the children answer. "So, what you're saying is, they have a purpose." The children nod their agreement. Then I hand the tablet to one of the closer children and hold ...

584. "The Rejection Of Royalty"

Psalm 22:1-31

Sermon

R. Sheldon MacKenzie

The language in this passage is remarkably restrained.There is no attempt in it to create sympathy for Jesus.There is no attempt to incite hatred toward those responsible for the actual crucifixion itself.This is an event far too solemn for that sort of thing.The facts are stated and left to stand for themselves.There is no additional comment of any kind.In a passage where the language is so carefully chosen the reader must go through it slowly and thoughtfully.Otherwise we might miss what is being said. ...

585. Proper 23

Mark 10:17-31

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP Be satisfied with God's love when morning breaks and sing for joy and be glad all your days. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of all possibilities, Gatekeeper of heaven, Assayer of Eternal values, you only are good. It is simpler to recite your commandments than to do them. Even if we do them, we often neglect the poor and risk eternal human values for the sake of perishable riches. Take from us all encumbrances that would prevent our entering the place of your rule. Apart from you, our salvation ...

586. What Children Owe Their Parents

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

R. E. Lybrand

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the Law came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked him, "Why is it that your disciples disobey the teaching handed down by our ancestors? They don't wash their hands in the proper way before they eat!" Jesus answered, "And why do you disobey God's command and follow your own teaching? For God said, 'Respect your father and your mother.' and 'Whoever curses his father or his mother is to be put to death.' But you teach that if a person has something he could use to help his ...

587. Proclaim Peace

Sermon

Alan Bacon Bond

Scripture:Isaiah 57:14-19John 20:19-23Colossians 1:1-2, 15-20 Text: "Peace be with you." The run-of-the-mill soldier belonged to a surly lot in the Tenth Roman Legion which occupied Israel in the days of Jesus. The soldier probably had been pressed into duty involuntarily. His assignment to this back-water outpost of the empire was nearly an insult. With the exception of the occasional threat of a riot, the duty was terribly boring. Amusement was hard to come by. Life had little value; so this scurrilous ...

588. Some Women's Stories

John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

Carl Jech

Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. (John 8:7) This story of the woman caught in adultery might be described as a "second-class story" - because it seems to have been added to John's Gospel as an afterthought. It does not appear in any of the older and more original versions of John, and some experts on the New Testament even think it may belong in Luke. The second-class status of this story is, unfortunately, also mildly appropriatein light of the fact that ...

589. Not My People

Hosea 1:1-2:1

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: The Lord is our salvation, and we will worship no other gods! People: No other power in all the universe can compare to Almighty God. Leader: But many have strayed to worship the things and powers of this world. People: Our God will not be mocked, yet God's justice is tempered by mercy. Leader: Mercy extended to us through the redeeming love of Christ. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Merciful and gracious God, even when we have broken our covenant with You, You have ...

590. The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

Power. We hear a lot about that today. We are concerned about the proliferation of nuclear power. Social activists are concerned about empowering the disadvantaged in our communities. We want to limit the power of the government in the management of our private lives. And, of course, we want to protect whatever power we already have. Power. The ability to get things done, to make things happen. We know it is important and we want our piece of the action. It isn't that we want to do anybody any harm by some ...

591. The Sunday of the Passion

Matthew 26:14--27:66

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

The Sunday of the Passion!? It was a lot simpler in the good old days when it was Palm Sunday. That was easy to understand. You had a straightforward story about the entry into Jerusalem, and because of all those children shouting "Hosanna," there was a good excuse to do the baptism of infants or confirmation of youth. We could all sing "The Palms," and it was very clear what the day was about. Sort of a practice run for Easter when we would pull out all the stops. But now the Sunday of the Passion! No ...

592. Proper 7 & Pentecost 5

Jeremiah 20:7-18, Psalm 69:1-36, Psalm 91:1-16, Genesis 28:10-22

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE Only the name of this Sunday, the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, gives any theological clue from the church year; the church is moving eschatologically and continues to anticipate the last times and the return of Christ. The Pentecost cycle/season is roughly one-fifth completed today, so there's a long way to go, as well as a long time to wait for the eschaton. The business of the church continues to be proclaiming "the Lord's death" - in worship, preaching, witnessing, and working - until ...

593. Good News for Exiles

Psalm 137:1-9, 2 Chronicles 36:15-23, Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

God’s Covenant is a Gospel Covenant. You’ve heard those words before. But what do they mean? We will approach this through the back door. There are certain things in life that you can only understand by way of contrast. You cannot know what spring is, until you’ve experienced a tough winter. You don’t really appreciate a Porsche until you’ve spent five hours in a Maverick. You cannot revel in community until you’ve languished in loneliness. That’s how it is with Gospel. You cannot know what Gospel is ...

594. THE ONLY WAY OUT

Illustration

John H. Krahn

You are because I am. I was there from the beginning. My Father, God, and I fashioned the world that you enjoy. We hung the stars in the sky, scooped out the lakes, formed the mountains. But our genius was no more evident than when we made you. You are so magnificent. Consider yourself - your ability to think and reason. Do you realize how special you are? We had such a great thing going in the garden. Unfortunately, the devil talked your forebears into trying to be like God, and they both fell for it. My ...

595. The Way I See It

Drama

Sarah Walton Miller

This skit, based on Luke 15:11-32, is a series of monologues in which each character gives his version of the conflict. The older brother has been made an older sister to show the story’s adaptability. Simple staging: four stools or chairs, so arranged that there is the illusion of isolation, each from the others. Always use any available levels. Actors, use your stools: stand by, sit or lean on them at will. Avoid eye contact with the other players. Freeze when not speaking. Characters are the FATHER, ...

596. Sturdy Dreamers

Mark 10:35-45

Illustration

Larry Powell

Foe three weeks the minister announced in the church newsletter that a called meeting of the Administrative Board would be held to consider enlarging the church kitchen. For three weeks, the same announcement appeared in the Sunday worship bulletin and was repeated verbally from the pulpit. On the appointed date, the board met, deliberated the details, and voted to move ahead with the kitchen project. Construction was soon under way. One morning, a member of the board happened by the church and was curious ...

597. His Death

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Brett Blair

We are continuing our Lenten series on the Passion of the Christ, the last week of the life of Jesus. We are nearing Easter. On the first Sunday of Lent we looked at the events of Sunday when he enters Jerusalem on the donkey fulfilling the Messianic prophecy of Zechariah. It was a day of celebration. On Monday Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, curses the fig tree, and clears the Temple of the moneychangers. It is a day of emotions. Tuesday was the day of teaching, a day of critics questions. Wednesday was the ...

598. Good Friday: The Three Crosses

John 18:1-11

Sermon

Brett Blair

The Cross. It struck fear in the hearts of the world. It was Rome’s means of controlling the people. According to Roman custom, the penalty of crucifixion was always preceded by scourging; after this preliminary punishment, the condemned person had to carry the cross, or at least the transverse beam of it, to the place of execution, exposed to the jibes and insults of the people. On arrival at the place of execution the cross was uplifted. Soon the sufferer, entirely naked, was bound to it with cords. He ...

599. Why Jesus Didn't Hire A "Public Relations Guy"

Mark 8:27-30

Sermon

King Duncan

There was a rock musical in the 1960s called Jesus Christ Superstar. In the musical, Judas Iscariot mocks Jesus with the theme song of the musical. The lyrics of one of the verses are something like this: "If you'd come today you could have reached the whole nation-- Israel in four B.C. had no mass communication . . . Jesus Christ Superstar, Do you think you're what they say you are?" (1) Makes sense, doesn't it? Judas' line of thinking indicates that God should have hired someone to handle public ...

600. When The World Goes Crazy!

Genesis 6:1-8:22

Sermon

King Duncan

Someone has made a list of the TOP 10 THINGS YOU'LL NEVER HEAR A DAD SAY: 10. Well, how 'bout that? I'm lost! Looks like we'll have to stop and ask for directions. 9. You know Pumpkin, now that you're thirteen, you'll be ready for unchaperoned car dates. Won't that be fun? 8. I noticed that all your friends have a certain hostile attitude. I like that. 7. Here's a credit card and the keys to my new car. GO CRAZY!! 6. What do you mean you wanna play football? Figure skating's not good enough for you, son? 5 ...

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